Hello Everyone!! Happy Easter! I hope you are enjoying your weekend and having fun no matter what you are up to. We're not big Easter celebrators, but I am enjoying seeing all the cute Easter bunny and Easter Egg hunt photos that have showed up in my Instagram feed. Today I bring you my Maya Top by Marilla Walker. It was very bright when we took these pictures so try to ignore the squinting. :)
I have been dreaming about a horizontally striped Maya for quite sometime. Katie made one quite a while ago, and I loved it, and have always had it in the back of my mind. I actually bought this pattern not long after seeing Katie's, but for some reason, have never sewed it up. Actually, that's not completely true, I sewed one for my Mom but kind of struggled with it. I'm not sure why, as I had no troubles with it this time. So weird, it must have been the fabric I chose.
Anyway, when I spotted this fabric in my stash, I thought it would be perfect. This fabric is actually meant to stripe vertically, but I cut my shirt out so that the stripes would go horizontally. I think that means I cut it on the the cross grain, but I'm not 100% sure that's the right terminology. Anyway, it's a Cotton & Steel quilting cotton I picked up locally here in Salmon Arm, and it is soooo soft. Quilting cotton might not always be the the best garment making fabric, but I find it really lovely to make shirts with, and it softens up a little more each time it gets washed. This print is part of the Homebody Collection: Vintage Prints for the Happy Recluse. When I saw the name on the selvage, it made me smile. I would definitely call myself a Happy Recluse, especially when we're out here at the cabin. Anyway, back to the shirt.
Based on Marilla's sizing chart, I fell between a size 5 and 6, but having seen a few versions of this top around the web, I decided to cut a size 4. I knew it was meant to be a bit oversized, but in looking at the pattern and after a couple quick flat pattern measurements, I decided I would be okay in a size 4. And I was right - I'm really happy with the fit. I think my next one needs a forward shoulder adjustment, but other than that, I don't think I have to do much in terms of fitting. Although, while we're talking about it, do those diagonal lines at the front mean that I need an FBA? Some of my other tops do that too, even if I have done an FBA. Should I worry about them? Sometimes I think I just get too obsessed with fitting.
The construction of this shirt is pretty quick and easy, and I love that the facings are all topstitched down. It was actually one of the things that drew me to this pattern. I really like that detail, although, if you don't, you could just as easily finish the neckline with bias tape or even just skip the topstitching on the facing, and then just hem the armholes. Marilla's instructions include french seams, but I decided to forgo those and just finish the seams with my serger (I love my serger!). If I was working with a more delicate fabric, I probably would have went with the french seams, but as this is a pretty sturdy quilting cotton, I didn't have to worry about bulky serger seams showing through.
There's a little action shot for you - I'm such a goof!
I think it's pretty clear that I am really happy with this top. I've already worn it quite a bit already and it makes me really happy. Partly because it's Marilla's design, and I've had lots of lovely interactions with her on Instagram, and I am pretty much obsessed with her patterns at the moment. And partly because of the beautiful fabric, and it's cool name. It's a little bit different shape than I normally wear, but I'm really digging it. Plus the colours are totally me, and can you really have enough stripes in your closet? I'm excited to make more Mayas. I'm excited to see how it looks in different fabrics, and there are also dress versions and a plain front version included with the pattern, so lots of possible variations.
I'm wearing these with one of my favourite pairs of Ginger-Angel jeans, and it looking at these photos, I think they are a mess at the back. I only ever see them from the front, and I think the fit is pretty great in the front, but the back is crazy. Does that ever happen to you? Am I just being super hard on myself? Is this where my jeans obsession really comes from? ;)
Anyway, hope you are all having lovely Sunday.